City of Pensacola Florida

Sanders Beach condos loom

Board recommends zoning change despite residents' complaints

Jamie Page
jepage@pnj.com

A development group is a step closer to gaining city approval to build multistory condominiums on waterfront property at Sanders Beach.

A number of neighborhood residents are upset over the prospects of increased traffic, obstructed views of Pensacola Bay and lower property values.

Yet in a unanimous vote, the City Planning Board on Tuesday agreed to recommend the property for a controversial new form of zoning. The Pensacola City Council will make the final decision.

Bayshore Boyzz — made up of local partners Jim Veal and brothers Bobby and Charles Switzer — owns 2 acres of Sanders Beach waterfront. It is considering building four upscale condo buildings that are allowed under the new zoning.

The zoning allows condo buildings up to six or seven stories tall with as many as 35 units per acre on property that qualifies throughout the city.

Nine of 14 residents who spoke to the Planning Board about the issue opposed the rezoning.

"I think it stinks that you can have 60 to 80 residents of a neighborhood be in opposition and the Planning Board totally disregards it because they think they're smarter than we are," said Nancy Neiger, who lives on Cypress Street in Sanders Beach.

"This will diminish my property value, my view will be blocked and more cars will be driving by my house every day," said Blake Jochum, who is renovating a historic home across the street from the property. "These guys don't have to live next to it. I do."

Veal said many of the comments made by opponents were "mischaracterizations" and "misleading," and whatever project his group decides to build will be a vast improvement for the community.

Michael Bredesen, who owns a business in Sanders Beach, favors the change.

"I do understand there is change that will come. I am for the change. I think we can all come to some agreement on this," he said.

The City Council approved creation of a new class of zoning last month after city officials said it will create more flexibility for housing in "transition" areas between neighborhoods with single-family homes and commercial districts.

Planning Board member Bob Moulton said he is recommending the Sanders Beach property for rezoning because he sees it as a positive change.

"I am sympathetic to the residents ... but it's a little like globalization. Whether we like it or not, it's coming," Moulton said.

Kevin Cowper, the city's director of community development, said the new zoning is suitable because Sanders Beach is on the waterfront, and there are similarly zoned lots nearby.

Under the new zoning, a property still has to comply with the city's land-use plan. For example, property cannot be rezoned to allow a high-rise building in the middle of an entirely residential neighborhood, Cowper said.